Condon tells about Iowa Lakes scholarship programs

April 18, 2014

This year, Iowa Lakes Community College students received $951,000 in scholarship assistance. In fact, 77 percent of students who applied received at least one scholarship, with the average scholarship recipient getting $2,300. And probably the biggest scholarship recently was a National Science Foundation Infinity grant in which students majoring in science, technology, engineering or math share $130,000 a year for four years.

Tony Condon, Iowa Lakes executive director of community and business relations, offered those and other impressive statistics about the college scholarship program to Estherville Rotary members Thursday.

Like other colleges and universities, Iowa Lakes scholarships come from donors - many right here in the college's five-county service area of Emmet, Kossuth, Clay, Palo Alto and Dickinson counties. Condon noted eight scholarship events each year, including five golf tournaments, the June 19 luau at the Barefoot Bar benefitting Dickinson County students, the tractor ride that benefits ag students and the Korks & Kegs Event at Pearson Lakes Art Center that helps fine arts students. Condon said the poker ride which was combined with a car cruise last year was cancelled this year due to a conflict with RAGBRAI. Every year there are also two donor-student receptions, one with nursing students in the fall and one for general students in the spring, said Condon.

It's easy for students to apply for scholarships. All they have to do is go online to iowalakes.edu and look under the scholarship link to apply. Over 150 scholarships are available currently, some with multiple recipients. Students provide two recommendation letters, and once they complete a scholarship application, they're eligible for all scholarships. Condon said it usually takes less than an hour for students to complete the application.

Scholarship recipients come from a wide range of age groups, from traditional to non-traditional. Most scholarships are good for one year, with half awarded each semester.

The Infinity Scholarship is renewable as long as students meet guidelines.